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Do you obey the speed limit?

The last time I had a ticket was in 1972, going 10 mph over the posted limit. I made it a point to pay better attention to posted limits and follow them.

This seems to piss folks off, I stay in the slow lane and still have people ride my tail and pass me only to cut in abruptly in front of me before speeding off. I pull up next to these speed demons at the next light, most only burn more fuel and gain no time.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I don't intentionally try to break speed limits but I'll often catch myself 10 or 20 mph over the limit in certain areas. My general reaction in those cases is "eh, whatever". Some of those "speed limits" are ridiculous and no one ever drives that slowly. There are times to go over and stay under the limits. I obey safety, not markings on certain signs.

And I agree, stopping for stop signs are a must.

Once you put your hand in the flame you can never be the same.
There's a certain satisfaction in a little bit of pain.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I'm often 5-8 MPH over the limit. I'm fortunate enough that I get perhaps one speeding ticket for every 25,000 miles driven, and I think it's been even less than that in recent years. More surprisingly I've only had one "hidden camera" automated speeding ticket in all of these years.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Frankly, speed limits are arbitrary within a margin of 10 mph in terms of safety. There must be a method to the madness, but the bureaucrat whom sets the limits probably doesn't know all the elements that make a road safe or dangerous. Going 40 mph in a 30 mph zone can be safer than in a 40 mph zone depending on such elements as weather, turns, surface condition, and traffic.

For example, there is a very straight stretch of boulevard leading to my neighborhood with a line of sight at least a mile with a 40 mph speed limit that can be safely traveled at 50 or higher if there is no traffic, but I would not go 30 on the 25 mph tertiary road that runs through my neighborhood. There are way too many children, parked cars, traffic, and turns. Thus, I usually go five under or slower on such roads. The difference of 10 mph in dangerous conditions can mean thousands of dollars in liabilities, the risk of injury or death, and even prison for the most reckless driving and serious accidents.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I have been getting worse as I grow older. I am at about 75-80 MPH on the freeway but in my defense...I am going with the flow of the traffic. I used to be one of the slow guys that people got mad at. I am not sure what changed but I started speeding a lot on the freeway maybe 10 years ago.

What I hate...a three or two lane freeway with no cars in front of them and two or three cars creating a blockade by driving side by side for miles...

Other than that..slow drivers don't bother me because I can just get in another lane and pass...

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I speed, often.

I like doing 80km/h*. It works. Problem is, residential and sub/urban limits in .za are 60, so in those cases I am well over the limit. I won't do that in a neighbourhood where there are loads of people walking or kids playing or anything, but on the main roads where there aren't such things I almost always do 75-80. I rarely get fined; in fact, I got my first speeding fine in almost two years just yesterday (76 in a 60 zone), and the previous one two years ago was my first one since 2002.

The highway is another matter. The limit is 80, 100 or 120, depending on whether highway or freeway and how many lanes it has. I tend to do about 100 regardless - it's the perfect compromise in speed and fuel consumption for my car; not too slow that I feel like I'm never going to be on time, but not so fast that it is just a waste of fuel to save 2 minutes of travel time.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I usually drive about 8 mph above the posted speed. Cops usually give out speeding tickets when you're at 10 mph or above. God knows I've had plenty of tickets in the past.

I don't care if people speed past me. A few years ago, one guy was tailing me for a while then sped past me angrily. Sure enough, he got pulled over by a cop about a few miles down the road...where everyone in the neighborhood knew it's a speed trap.

If I noticed someone is riding my tail, I purposely slow down so that car would speed past me and out of my way. I just pay attention to what I'm doing to where I'm going...fuck everyone else

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Exactly. In your case, per your first post in this thread, you are about 5 mph above the rules.

Speed limits are not like criminal laws like theft, rape, or murder where clear harm is being done.

But my reasons for going 5mph over the speed limit doesn't have to do with thinking that the speed limit is too low and then making my own rules thinking about how much they should be and going that speed.

And no one said they are?

Though I'd argue that people that are speeding are possibly forcing other peoples hands to make driving decisions they don't want to make because of being pressured by the speeder, especially new drivers.

Traffic regulations are put in place for safety. When they become a farce, it erodes their credibility, much like marijuana laws. They are still laws, but lack integrity.

I can't speak for the roads people on here ride on, so I'm sorry I don't buy into the fact that all these people actually drive on roads that have "farce" speed limitations and they feel the need to do over the limit to compensate.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Depends, I speed on some roads but--on the road to my weekend home---I keep the limit as there are more fucking state troopers than cars sometimes. I still got stopped recently for failure to change lanes when a cop is giving a ticket on the side of the road---(a cop was killed a few years back giving a ticket on the side of a highway) so--NY state has a new law that you must move away---change lanes---away from a cop who has stopped someone on the side of the road---I could not change lanes as everyone was freaking out and changing lanes and I was trapped---so a 21 year old blue eyed blond cop with aviator glasses who looked like a gay porn star stopped me and gave me a ticket--(not exaggerating he was a classic hottie)--I fought it and won---it's hard to prove I could change lanes safely with out causing a big multi-car pileup.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

We used to use a "Fuzzbuster" or Radar detector years back, that would always help. It beeped when a radar gun was aimed at you so would slam on the brakes. lol. Anybody still have one of these? Do they even make them anymore? I forgot about mine.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

With cruse control available on most automobiles these days, it seems ridiculous for drivers to speed. On city streets, as long as the posted speed limit is above 30 MPH, I usually set cruse at 1 MPH higher than the posted speed limit, most of the time hitting lights green while the speed daemons race ahead to the next stop light, and just shake my head at those who seem to be in such a hurry to get anywhere. There have been studies done about speed limits within metropolitan areas and speeders that show the amount of time saved by running 5 to 10 miles an hour over the posted limit only saves seconds over those of us who travel at posted speeds. Unfortunately, I can't find any links. Most of the studies I have come across are about highway speeds, not city street speed limits

Now, out on the highways, where the posted limit is say 60 MPH, I set cruse at 67 and don't have any problems. When limit goes to 65, I speed up a couple of MPH. At 70 MPH, I'm on cruse at 73. . .at 75, I'm running 78.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Cruise control is useless around here because you constantly get slowed down to 40mph by some F**** PRIUS needing to hypermile.
I think many people speed out of sheer frustration, when you finally get some space it feels good to finally run a little. I know I like to open it up after creeping and crawling through relentless traffic. 405 freeway anyone?
And then if it DOES open up, here comes the Prius or Camry slowing the world down, making the days longer again. That's just not right either. My dad actually got pulled over once for driving too slow on the freeway.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Originally Posted by pilotguy121a

In the city, I obey speed limit by 5-7mph. Always fully stop at stop signs. Had some very close calls with people rolling right through and not looking both ways.

On the highway though we have 55MPH limits in Chicago/Suburbs, yeah, no one does 55MPH. 65-85 MPH is the norm. I usually do 70MPH. I do have a radar/laser detector as well.
Never gotten pulled over or ticketed yet.

That must be nice people were i live people go 45 to 50 om the freeway and it drive me crazy .

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I stick to the speed limit i always leave early for work. Cops here are too worried about writing tickets then crime and we have the speed cameras. I heard my fair share of "You drive too slow"etc cars do go around me but oh well.

Yellow lights i don't run them unless I'm extremely close to the light its sad when you see 30 cars run a yellow/red light.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I also stop at all yellow lights and stop signs. I never cross the continuous white line and never stop on a pedestrian crossing. In traffic jams I leave enough space for someone to turn into or out of a side road. In a jam I never cross the lights until there is enough space for me to clear the junction.

I also scream out "connard" to anyone who cuts me up; it releases the tension.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I've never had a speeding ticket. I make a point of trying to stick to the limit when I have other people in the car. But, on the motorway, if it's a clear long stretch with virtually no other cars nearby, I might pick the pace up a bit.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

The speed posted on the little sign-thingies at the side of the road is the speed to be done, barring construction, debris on the roads, or bad weather. Not clouds, but specifically bad weather like freezing rain, or something that would actually affect safety. This is the speed at which no one can complain about your driving.

Don't merge onto the 80 km/h main road at 70

Don't travel on the 80 km/h main road at 78. Keep using that velocitator until you reach the posted speed, and do it promptly.

Don't merge onto the 110 km/h highway at 80.

If you are in the passing lane, traffic should be receding in the lane to your right (in CA, US, FR) or receding in the lane to your left (HK, UK, ZA) otherwise you have no convincing reason to stay there.

If you are in the passing lane and someone in front of you is doing at least the speed limit and passing traffic, you get to wait your fucking turn until they're done passing.

If someone prefers to pass faster than you, and they're following the rule above and waiting patiently, it is polite to let them go when you can find a break in traffic to pull into. You are not the speed police, and if they have been waiting patiently they've demonstrated judgement and skill.

If you ignore these rules and someone takes evasive action to get around you whilst giving you some helpful driving tips with assorted gestures through their open window, you are not a "victim of road rage." You're a public transit user, who needs to realize it.

Americans need to keep their guns so they can protect themselves from gun violence just like Nancy Lanza did. And like Chris Kyle did. And like Gabby Giffords did. And like Tom Clements did. And like Michael Piemonte. And Joseph Wilcox.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Originally Posted by Kahaih

Don't most vehicles come equipped with cruise control these days?

Originally Posted by Dejavudoo

Your question suggests either you don't drive or that you think most speeding occurs in highway situations. Cruise control is of no use at all in traffic, whether on highway or in town. It's only good when it can be maintained without braking, which is often impossible even on an interstate.

I don't think I can engage my cruise control unless I'm going at least 35 MPH.

BOSS: I'm sorry, but I'll have to lay you and Jack off.
SUE: Can you just jack off? I feel like shit today.

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires" - Susan B. Anthony

If Mary gave birth to Jesus, and Jesus is the Lamb of God, did Mary have a little lamb?

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Originally Posted by bankside

the speed posted on the little sign-thingies at the side of the road is the speed to be done, barring construction, debris on the roads, or bad weather. Not clouds, but specifically bad weather like freezing rain, or something that would actually affect safety. This is the speed at which no one can complain about your driving.

don't merge onto the 80 km/h main road at 70

don't travel on the 80 km/h main road at 78. Keep using that velocitator until you reach the posted speed, and do it promptly.

don't merge onto the 110 km/h highway at 80.

if you are in the passing lane, traffic should be receding in the lane to your right (in ca, us, fr) or receding in the lane to your left (hk, uk, za) otherwise you have no convincing reason to stay there.

if you are in the passing lane and someone in front of you is doing at least the speed limit and passing traffic, you get to wait your fucking turn until they're done passing.

if someone prefers to pass faster than you, and they're following the rule above and waiting patiently, it is polite to let them go when you can find a break in traffic to pull into. You are not the speed police, and if they have been waiting patiently they've demonstrated judgement and skill.

if you ignore these rules and someone takes evasive action to get around you whilst giving you some helpful driving tips with assorted gestures through their open window, you are not a "victim of road rage." you're a public transit user, who needs to realize it.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

We have a TV programme up here called Canada's Worst Driver (on Discovery). Some of the people on there are truly unbelievable and leave you wondering how they even got their licence in the first place.

Anyway, one of the people on the show insisted that speed limits were merely suggestions.

As for me, in all my decades of driving, I received only 1 speeding ticket. I guess I was lucky that that was the only time I got caught.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I have utilized cruise control on city streets for as long as I can remember automobiles having cruise. It isn't a problem except during rush hours, when traffic is so heavy as to make trying to utilize it literally impossible. However, during most of the rest of the day (or night) I have no problem with cruise control. I maintain a constant speed (for the most part, barring steep downhill grades that make an automobile coast regardless of speed set) and as long as the vehicles in front of me are traveling faster than the posted limit (which is probably 95% of drivers ) it doesn't create a problem.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

I've gotten just one ticket for speeding. Traffic was streaming around me, but I was ten mph over the posted limit, so with the out-of-state plates I became a target.

I stay between twenty percent below and ten percent above the posted limit, depending on what helps traffic flow more smoothly.

"Thirty-one* states allow all qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons. In those states, homosexuals should embark on organized efforts to become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them. They should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry. And they should do it in a way that gets as much publicity as possible. "

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Seems like I'm one of the few speed demons here...and I don't really even consider myself driving all that fast. It's very difficult for me to stay under the speed limit on freeways if there is ample space between cars. All the Cali folks will know what I'm talking about if I point out the stretch of "I-5" between Modesto and Bakersfield. That stretch is just begging for me to push 90mph when there is nary a car in sight (or everyone is basically doing 85+ anyway).

(I hope none of you are undercover cops...)...in which case I never made this statement.

Once you put your hand in the flame you can never be the same.
There's a certain satisfaction in a little bit of pain.

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

^
Heh.

It's interesting and annoying to me that while Oregon's traffic laws remain the same, the defense that one's driving was safe given the conditions is no longer honored. So what changed? I see it as one of the drawbacks of "the rule of law", because it throws out common sense and exalts laws to divine-like status.

"Thirty-one* states allow all qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons. In those states, homosexuals should embark on organized efforts to become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them. They should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry. And they should do it in a way that gets as much publicity as possible. "

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Originally Posted by Dejavudoo

The stop lights here make it untenable. None are timed so it is inevitable that one will be hitting one every few blocks. I live in the middle of the city.

When I was at OSU, going through town at the speed limit guaranteed you would catch a light. Reason? They had the lights on timers, but they didn't take into account the time spent getting up to speed or the little fluctuations normal in traffic. So I got to help a civil engineering project, driving repeatedly through town in the wee hours of the morning at different speeds until we pinned down the actual effective speed the lights were set for. Then we used that speed in daytime traffic, and it was successful far more often than not in getting through all the lights.
The awesome part was that when the team of engineering students who'd run the project went to the city council with their findings, the council decided to initiate a full-coverage survey of all the traffic lights downtown and along the highways where they go through town -- and asked the university engineering department to do it. Late summer after that academic year, all the lights got reset on timing, and traffic flowed a great deal better. And at two lights they did away with the timing and had smart panels in the pavement not just at the light, but spaced out quite a ways before the light so it "knew" if anything was coming!

"Thirty-one* states allow all qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons. In those states, homosexuals should embark on organized efforts to become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them. They should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry. And they should do it in a way that gets as much publicity as possible. "

Re: Do you obey the speed limit?

Question,
the US drive on the right hand side of the road but Canada drive on the Left hand side right?

Just for you, Telly:

Now we need a map of countries where people obey the speed limits, and where they don't.

"Thirty-one* states allow all qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons. In those states, homosexuals should embark on organized efforts to become comfortable with guns, learn to use them safely and carry them. They should set up Pink Pistols task forces, sponsor shooting courses and help homosexuals get licensed to carry. And they should do it in a way that gets as much publicity as possible. "